- Crystal Palace will be in the 2026-27 UEFA Europa League
- Five standout opponents
- A huge reunion on the cards
The UEFA Europa League fixtures will be released on August 28th and Crystal Palace could come up against some of the greatest clubs in European football. This is the competition the Eagles should have been participating in last season.
Instead, Palace were demoted to the UEFA Conference League due to UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules (and Nottingham Forest). The Tricky Trees will be playing no European football next season, unlike the South Londoners, who head into the tournament as Conference League winners.
With that said, Read Crystal Palace has assessed five possible fixtures that could take place at Selhurst Park. We have ranked them based on their magnitude and the opponents’ European success.
5. Real Sociedad
While every Palace fan dreams of playing Barcelona or Real Madrid, a potential clash with Real Sociedad does whet the appetite. They are one of the strongest non-Clasico clubs in Spanish football.
Sociedad finished 10th last season but won the Copa del Rey, securing their place in the Europa League. La Real, two-time La Liga champions, have never won a European trophy, but they reached the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1982-83.
Their attack boasts several familiar names, including Daichi Kamada‘s Japan teammate Takefusa Kubo and Yeremy Pino’s Spanish compatriots Ander Barrenetxea and Mikel Oyarzabal. They are managed by American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo.
4. Marseille
Probably the third-biggest club in French football, Olympique de Marseille are the first French side to win the Champions League. An encounter could be all about the two clubs’ passionate fanbases as Marseille Ultras create an intimidating and vibrant atmosphere at the Orange Vélodrome.
Another intriguing subplot if Palace battle the Ligue 1 giants is Ismaila Sarr facing his former club. The Senegalese winger joined the Eagles from Les Phocéens in August 2024 for £12.5m and he’s become arguably the best signing of the Oliver Glasner era.
Pierre Sage looks set to succeed Glasner and he could come up against familiar foes from his time at Lens. They are a team consisting of high-profile names such as former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood and ex-Arsenal hero Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
3. Bayer Leverkusen
When you think of German football, Bayer Leverkusen is one of the clubs that immediately springs to mind. They were on the receiving end of perhaps the greatest goal in Champions League history when Zinedine Zidane struck a volley.
Leverkusen aren’t as dominant as Bayern Munich but they do boast trophy success. That includes the UEFA Cup and the Bundesliga title won unbeaten under new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso in the 2023-24 season.
They have failed to build on that title victory but still possess an exciting squad. Patrick Schick is a fox in the box, while former Liverpool defender Jarrell Quansah is in defence.
2. Juventus
How the mighty have fallen over in Turin as Juventus are no longer a European powerhouse. The Old Lady is the second-most successful Italian team in European competitions, with a 1995-96 Champions League triumph.
Juve will be among the favourites to win the Europa League next season. Coached by former Italy boss Luciano Spaletti, a trip to the Allianz Stadium would be a dream for Palace.
A team that once had the likes of Alessandro Del Piero and Pavel Nedved doesn’t look as impressive in this day and age. But Turkish winger Kenan Yildiz and Italian midfielder Manuel Locatelli are big names.
1. AC Milan
There would be no bigger game for Palace than a showdown with AC Milan. With seven Champions League titles to their name, they are just second to Real Madrid in the list of teams in Europe’s elite club competitions.
That said, Milan has nosedived over the years and continues to try and return to their glory days. There are many similarities with United, whose fall from grace has shocked English football since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
While coming up against Christian Pulisic and Luka Modric is an exciting prospect, there’s one massive name that could make this a Hollywood blockbuster. Glasner is heavily linked with the San Siro job and should he get it, he could be facing his beloved Eagles next season.
